Blues forward Armando Dobra was sent off for two bookable offences as Albania’s U21s were beaten 3-0 by their England counterparts at Chesterfield’s Technique Stadium.

The 21-year-old, who was winning his 11th U21s cap, picked up both his cards for fouls on Everton’s Anthony Gordon, the first on 47 and the second with 11 minutes left on the clock.

Dobra, who recently spent time training with the senior Albania squad having caught the eye of manager Edoardo Reja, will now miss next Monday’s game against Kosovo in Elbasan.

The forward, who spent a frustrating spell on loan at Colchester during 2021/22, is contracted to the Blues to the summer of 2023 with the club having an option for a further season.

Meanwhile, young Town keeper Lewis Ridd started and won his sixth Wales U18s cap as his side beat hosts Croatia 4-2 in their opening game at a friendly tournament this afternoon.

The 17-year-old and his team-mates subsequently take on England on Friday and Austria next Monday.

Ridd, who spent time on loan at AFC Sudbury and Bury Town in 2021/22, is among the second-year scholars to have been offered professional terms by the Blues.

Photo: Action Images

ITFC_96 added 22:21 - Jun 7 He desperately needs to have a good pre-season for his own sake.
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arc added 00:49 - Jun 8 Oh, heavens. I haven't seen one second of this match, but Anthony Gordon is such a diver. I would not be surprised if he made the most of a couple of fouls.
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Ipswichbusiness added 08:18 - Jun 8 He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.
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d77sgw added 09:05 - Jun 8 Both yellows were stonewall - second was unfortunate, good feet by Gordon. First one was idiotic.
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SouperJim added 09:41 - Jun 8 I still think there's a player in there. Probably not for us, but I won't be surprised if he goes to a league two or national league club and then kicks on. Colchester was probably just a bad fit for him, they've sturggled, too many familiar faces who already have made their minds up about him etc. The way he got amongst them in our preseason friendly last year and they didn't like it sticks in the memory.

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blues1 added 10:08 - Jun 8 SouperJim. So you think our ex players picked the team at col utd? The reason he didnt play, hardly at all 2nd half of the season, was that col utd had 6 loan players, but could only name 5 in the match day squad. And as they were in a relegation fight, would likely have wanted the more experienced ones in the team. A shame for him, as he clearly needs games to improve himself.

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runningout added 10:48 - Jun 8 Decent players know how to stay out of the referees book
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SouperJim added 11:03 - Jun 8 blues1 of course you want experienced pros for a dogfight, but in the same breath Dobs has proved himself to be a little terrier who is up for the fight, if managed correctly. It's easy to underestimate the influence of the dressing room with regards to how individuals are thought of and supported by their team mates. Dobra needs to be carefully managed and nurtured, I think Col U was just a bad fit for that all round, but yes how their season went was a big part of that.

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Linkboy13 added 11:07 - Jun 8 No excuses he just hasn't done it bit of a one trick pony. Like all players who have failed to impress at Ipswich there's a player in their somewhere always makes me laugh that one.
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